The University of West Alabama Athletics Department is seeking an Assistant AD for Athletic Communications. This position is responsible for all strategic communications within and for the Athletics Department, including media relations, public relations, and digital media. The Assistant AD for Athletic Communications will serve as a member of the department’s senior staff and will advise and confer with the leadership group on all strategic communications and other related items and initiatives.

 
Responsibilities 

  • Orchestrating and managing organizational structure for strategic communications.
  • Anticipating, advising, developing, and implementing communication and messaging strategies/tactics and policies/procedures.
  • Proactively adapting to an ever-changing strategic communications landscape to ensure efficient operations and maximum productivity.
  • Oversight and execution of staff/student-athlete media and social media training.
  • General oversight of coaches’ radio shows, radio announcers, and public address announcers.
  • Oversight of all media relations activities, including press releases and press conferences, in-game statistics, live statistics, streams, as well as other broadcasts.
  • Ensuring department messages are consistent and that all communication is timely and accurate.
  • Providing “quality control” as it relates to all communication materials/digital media.
  • Proactively developing excellent relationships with local, regional, and national media, as required.
  • Serving as department liaison with FLO Sports in areas of production.
  • Providing leadership and oversight of digital and social media with a focus on content strategy and growing all applicable platforms.
  • Collaborate closely with UWA marketing and creative services, as well as UWA Athletic Marketing, on content strategy analysis and ideation.
  • Ensuring appropriate communication strategies and execution are coordinated with campus entities to ensure consistent messaging and alignment with a broader vision.
  • Other work-related duties as assigned by the Director of Athletics.

Required: 

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Experience in oversight and/or execution of strategic communications/public relations, preferably in a collegiate athletics setting.
  • Demonstrated ability to integrate all strategic communication operations within a complex organization across various mediums.
  • Demonstrated ability to convey department messaging accurately and concisely, which includes excellent written and verbal communication.
  • Strong computer skills and related software capability.
  • Excellent management, organizational, analytical, and project management skills.
  • Ability to meet established deadlines and work effectively with diverse groups of internal and external constituents.
  • Ability to analyze, interpret, communicate, and adhere to UWA, Gulf South Conference, and NCAA policies, procedures, rules, and regulations.
  • Ability to travel and work on weekends when necessary.
  • Work on traditional holidays as sports schedules dictate.

Application Deadline:

The review of applications will begin July 9, 2024 and continue until the position is filled.

To Apply:  Candidates should send a résumé, cover letter, unofficial transcripts, and references to:

Brett Gilliland

Athletics Director

The University of West Alabama

Station 5

Livingston, AL 35470

bgilliland@uwa.edu

Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation, including information obtained from social media and other internet sources.

The University of West Alabama does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, hearing status, personal appearance, color, sex, pregnancy, political affiliation, creed, ethnicity, national origin (including ancestry), citizenship status, physical or mental disability (including perceived disability), age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran or military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status, or any other protected category under applicable local, state, or federal law, including protections for those opposing discrimination or participating in any grievance process on campus, with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or other human rights agencies.

AA/EO Employer.

Minority applications encouraged.